Floor jack having integrated tool kit

ABSTRACT

A floor jack is providing having an integrated tool kit. The floor jack includes a jack body and a tool kit assembly disposed on the jack body for housing tools. The tool kit includes a storage housing pivotally coupled to an exterior side of a sidewall of the jack body. The storage housing defining a plurality of storage locations configured to secure tools, such as a socket wrench and a plurality of sockets such that they are exposed and readily assessable for use.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 61/302,075,filed Feb. 5, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to floor jacks and, moreparticularly, to floor jacks having a tool kit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A jack is a device for lifting a heavy object and has the properties ofeasy moving and operation, so the jack is widely used in variousindustries, and vehicle maintenance in particular. Therefore, almosteach vehicle is prepared for a jack.

The underlining reason to lift a vehicle is enable a mechanic to inspector fix components of the vehicle. To do so, tools are often required.Thus, the user must first raise the vehicle with the jack. Then, findthe appropriate tools from a tool kit, carrying those tools underneaththe vehicle. When a vehicle is in a remote location, the user must bringboth the floor jack and separate tool kit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, and in general terms, the invention provides a floor jackhaving integrated tool kit having a jack body and a tool kit assemblydisposed on the jack body for housing tools. The tool kit assemblyincludes a storage assembly configured to house a plurality of toolssuch as a socket wrench and a plurality of sockets such that they areexposed and readily assessable for use.

More specifically, by way of example and not limitation, the tool kitassembly is pivotally mounted to a first sidewall of the jack body. Thestorage housing defines a plurality of recesses configured eachconfigured to receive a single wrench socket. The assembly can furtherinclude a plurality of wrench sockets. The storage housing is furtherconfigured to receive the socket wrench in a conforming recess viasnap-fit configuration.

In a detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the a floor jack havingintegrated tool kit can include a first tool kit assembly mounted on afirst side wall of the jack body and a second tool kit assembly mountedon a second side wall of the jack body. In such configurations, thefirst tool kit assembly can include metric-sized sockets, and the secondtool kit assembly can include inch-sized (SAE) sockets.

In yet another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the tool kitassembly, (or assemblies) is configured to be attached to the sidewallof the jack body in a removable manner and is pivotally attached. Inthis manner, the assembly can pivot away from the sidewall to facilitateaccess to the tools. For example, the assembly can include attachmentslocated a bottom portion of a tool housing that interfaces withattachments on the sidewall of the jack body.

The upper end of the tool kit assembly can include a deflectable portionconfigured to couple to the jack assembly to maintain the tool kit in anupright orientation. For example, the floor jack can include a handlepivotally attached to the jack body. The deflectable portion can coupleto the pivot attachment of the handle.

For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achievedover the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have beendescribed herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarilyall such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particularembodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the artwill recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in amanner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantagesas taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as maybe taught or suggested herein.

All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of theinvention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the presentinvention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodiments havingreference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited toany particular preferred embodiment disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear, left perspective view of a combined floor jack andtool kit in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear, right perspective view of the floor jack havingintegrated tool kit of FIG. 1, depicting the driving lever secured tothe rotary lock bolt of the floor jack.

FIG. 3 is a front, left perspective view of the floor jack havingintegrated tool kit of FIG. 1, depicting a socket storage assemblyhousing a plurality of wrench sockets.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the floor jack having integrated tool kit ofFIG. 1, depicting the driving lever disposed on a lever storageassembly.

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the floor jack havingintegrated tool kit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the floor jack having integrated tool kit ofFIG. 1, depicting the first and second tool kit assemblies in an angledconfiguration.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the floor jack having integratedtool kit of FIG. 1, depicting the first and second tool kit assembliesin an angled configuration.

FIG. 8 is a front, close-up perspective view of the floor jack havingintegrated tool kit of FIG. 1, depicting the first and second tool kitassemblies in an angled configuration.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the floor jack having integratedtool kit of FIG. 1, depicting the first kit assembly detached from thejack body.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the floor jack having integratedtool kit of FIG. 1, depicting the first and second tool kit assembliesdetached from the jack body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown afloor jack having integrated tool kit 10. The assembly includes a jackbody 12, a first tool assembly 14 disposed on a first sidewall 16 of thejack body, and a second tool assembly 18 disposed on a second sidewall20 of the jack body.

The body 12 includes a front portion 22, an intermediate region 24, andan end portion 26. The body comprises first and second sidewalls 16, 20spaced apart from each other. A lift arm 28 is coupled to the body. Thelift arm has a first end 30 pivotally coupled to the intermediate regionof the body and a second end 32 proximate to the front portion. Thefloor jack further includes a top plate 34 coupled to the second end ofthe lift arm. The top plate configured to engage a lifting location ofan object to be lifted. In the exemplary embodiment, the top plate isconfigured to engage a lifting location of an automobile; however, inother embodiments the top plate can be configured in various other formsto lift other objects such as a motorcycle via, e.g., spaced apartparallel bars such as those commonly known in the art.

A hydraulic system 36 of the floor jack is housed within the body andconfigured to raise the lift arm. The hydraulic system is operated bythe driving head 38, which is pivotally coupled to the end portion 26 ofthe body. In use, an engaging portion of a driving lever (not shown) isinserted into an aperture of the driving head to operate a hydraulicsystem.

The tool assemblies 14, 18 house at least one wrench socket 40. In theexemplary embodiment, the tool assemblies each include a storage housing13, 15 coupled a corresponding sidewall (16, 20) of the body. The firsttool kit assembly includes metric-sized sockets 45, and the second toolkit assembly includes inch-sized (SAE) sockets 47. In this manner, auser has convenient access to wrench sockets commonly used. The storagebodies define a plurality of recesses (41), each configured to receive asingle wrench socket of a prescribed size. In the exemplary embodiment,recesses are disposed along an upper edge of the storage bodies.

The floor jack 10 further includes a handle 42 attached to the sidewalls16, 20 in the intermediate region 24 of the body via pivot attachments44. The upper edges 46 of the storage bodies include deflectableportions 48 configured to engage the pivot attachments 44 in snap fitarrangement and a detachable manner to maintain the storage bodies in anupright configuration, which can be generally flush with the sidewalls.The deflectable portions are disposed in a curved portion 50 of theupper edge sized to conform to the pivot attachments. The curved portionis located between recesses 41 of the storage housing. The pivotattachments 44 define an annular lip 58 (FIG. 10) positioned to engagethe deflectable portions 48 of the storage bodies 13, 15.

A front wall 52, 53 of each storage housing 13, 15 is configured toreceive a plurality of tools, such as a wrench 54 and an extender 56. Inthe exemplary embodiment, the front walls include a plurality ofopposing arms 77, 79 (FIG. 3) configured to receive the tools in a snapfit manner. In other embodiment, the storage housing can be configuredto hold various other tools, e.g., screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, hexwrenches, and other hand tools known in the art. In other embodiments,various other configurations can be used for storing wrench sockets. Forexample, the storage assembly can include posts configured to mate withwrench sockets.

With reference now to FIGS. 6-10, opposing sides of the storage housingdefine apertures 60 configured to mate with pivot posts 62 coupled tothe sidewalls 16, 20 of the jack body, forming a pivot attachment forthe storage bodies to the sidewalls. The pivot attachment is configureto confine the orientation of each storage housing in a prescribed rangesuch as from a vertical orientation to an angled orientation of about 30degrees off vertical (e.g., FIG. 6-8). In selected preferredembodiments, the terminal end of the angled orientation is between about15 degrees to about 45 degrees from vertical.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the storage bodies can be removed fromthe jack body. In this manner, a user can access the tools quicklywithout need of moving the floor jack, when needed.

The floor jack 10 further includes a pair of wheels 70 at the frontportion 22 of the body, with an axle extending therebetween. Two casterwheels 72 are positioned in the end portion 26 of the body, attached toextensions from the sidewalls. The storage bodies 13, 15 are sized to bedisposed between the front wheels 70 and the caster wheels 72.

Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with reference onlyto the exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat various other embodiments can be provided without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined onlyby the claims set forth below.

1. A floor jack having integrated tool kit, comprising: a body having afront portion, an intermediate region, and an end portion, the bodyfurther having a pair of sidewalls spaced apart from each other; alifting assembly having a lift arm having a first end pivotally coupledto the intermediate region of the body and a second end proximate to thefront portion, a top plate coupled to the second end of the lift arm,the top plate configured to engage a lifting location of an object to belifted, and a driving head pivotally coupled to the end portion of thebody to operate a hydraulic system housed within the body and configuredto raise the lift arm; and a tool assembly having a storage housingcoupled to an exterior side of a sidewall of the pair of sidewalls, thestorage housing defining a plurality of storage locations configured tosecure tools.
 2. A floor jack having integrated tool kit as defined inclaim 1, wherein the plurality of storage locations are disposed alongan upper edge of the storage housing and each storage location isconfigured to receive a single wrench socket of a prescribed size.
 3. Afloor jack having integrated tool kit as defined in claim 2, wherein thestorage housing is pivotally attached to a sidewall of the body.
 4. Afloor jack having integrated tool kit as defined in claim 1, wherein anupper edge of the storage housing includes a deflectable portionconfigured to engage a pivot attachment of a handle to maintain thestorage housing in an upright configuration.
 5. A floor jack havingintegrated tool kit as defined in claim 4, wherein the deflectableportion is disposed in a curved portion of the upper edge sized toconform to the pivot attachment.
 6. A floor jack having integrated toolkit as defined in claim 1, wherein the storage housing includes a frontwall configured to receive a plurality of tools.
 7. A floor jack havingintegrated tool kit as defined in claim 6, wherein the front wallincludes a plurality of opposing arms configured to receive the tools ina snap fit manner.
 8. A floor jack having integrated tool kit,comprising: a body having a front portion, an intermediate region, andan end portion, the body further having a pair of sidewalls spaced apartfrom each other, the body further having a handle having a centralportion disposed above the intermediate region and opposing end portionsattached to the sidewalls in the intermediate region; a lifting assemblyhaving a lift arm having a first end pivotally coupled to theintermediate region of the body and a second end proximate to the frontportion, a top plate coupled to the second end of the lift arm, the topplate configured to engage a lifting location of an object to be lifted,and a driving head pivotally coupled to the end portion of the body tooperate a hydraulic system housed within the body and configured toraise the lift arm; a first tool assembly having a storage housingremovably coupled to an exterior side of a first sidewall of the pair ofsidewalls, the storage housing defining a plurality of storage locationsconfigured to secure tools, the storage housing having an upper portion,a lower portion, and a front wall, the upper portion defining aplurality of storage locations configured to secure tools, and aplurality of tools securely received in the plurality of storagelocations; and
 9. A floor jack having integrated tool kit as defined inclaim 8, further comprising: a second tool assembly having a storagehousing pivotally coupled to an exterior side of a second sidewall ofthe pair of sidewalls, the storage housing having an upper portion, alower portion, and a front wall, the upper portion defining a pluralityof storage locations configured to secure tools, the lower portionhaving pivot attachments disposed at opposing forward and aft ends thatmate with corresponding pivot attachments coupled to the second sidewallto enable the storage housing to pivot away from the second sidewall,and a plurality of tools securely received in the plurality of storagelocations; wherein the body is configured to engage each of the storagehousings in snap-fit arrangement and a detachable manner.
 10. A floorjack having integrated tool kit as defined in claim 9, wherein an upperedge of each of the storage housings includes a deflectable portionconfigured to couple to the body in snap-fit arrangement and adetachable manner to maintain each of the storage housings in an uprightorientation relative to the respective sidewall.
 11. A floor jack havingintegrated tool kit as defined in claim 9, wherein the front wall ofeach of the storage bodies is configured to receive a plurality oftools.
 12. A floor jack having integrated tool kit as defined in claim11, wherein the front wall of each of the storage bodies includes aplurality of opposing arms configured to receive a tool in a snap-fitmanner.
 13. A floor jack having integrated tool kit, comprising: a bodyhaving a front portion, an intermediate region, and an end portion, thebody further having a pair of sidewalls spaced apart from each other,the body further having a handle having a central portion disposed abovethe intermediate region and opposing end portions defining pivotattachments coupled to the sidewalls in the intermediate region, eachsidewall having a pair of posts spaced apart from each other proximateto a bottom edge on an exterior side of the respective sidewall; alifting assembly having a lift arm having a first end pivotally coupledto the intermediate region of the body and a second end proximate to thefront portion, a top plate coupled to the second end of the lift arm,the top plate configured to engage a lifting location of an object to belifted, and a driving head pivotally coupled to the end portion of thebody to operate a hydraulic system housed within the body and configuredto raise the lift arm; a first tool assembly having a storage housingpivotally coupled to the posts of the first sidewall, the storagehousing defining a plurality of storage locations configured to securetools, the storage housing having an upper portion, a lower portion, anda front wall, the upper portion defining a plurality of storagelocations configured to secure tools, the storage housing coupled to theposts in such a manner to enable the storage housing to pivot away fromthe first sidewall, and a plurality of tools securely received in theplurality of storage locations; and a second tool assembly having astorage housing pivotally coupled to the posts of the second sidewall,the storage housing defining a plurality of storage locations configuredto secure tools, the storage housing having an upper portion, a lowerportion, and a front wall, the upper portion defining a plurality ofstorage locations configured to secure tools, the storage housingcoupled to the posts in such a manner to enable the storage housing topivot away from the second sidewall, and a plurality of tools securelyreceived in the plurality of storage locations.
 14. A floor jack havingintegrated tool kit as defined in claim 13, wherein an upper edge ofeach of the storage bodies includes a deflectable portion configured tocouple to the respective pivot attachment of the handle in snap-fitarrangement and a detachable manner to maintain each of the storagebodies in an upright orientation relative to the respective sidewall,each deflectable portion is disposed in a curved portion of the upperedge sized to conform to the pivot attachment.
 15. A floor jack havingintegrated tool kit as defined in claim 13, wherein the plurality ofstorage locations of the first and the second storage housing areconfigure to receive a plurality of socket in a generally verticalorientation.
 16. A floor jack having integrated tool kit as defined inclaim 13, wherein the front wall of each of the storage bodies isconfigured to receive a plurality of tools.
 17. A floor jack havingintegrated tool kit as defined in claim 15, wherein the front wall ofeach of the storage bodies includes opposing arms configured to receivea tool in a snap-fit manner.
 18. A floor jack having integrated tool kitas defined in claim 15, wherein the opposing arms of at least one of thefront walls is configured to receive a socket wrench.
 19. A floor jackhaving integrated tool kit as defined in claim 18, wherein the pluralityof storage locations of the first and the second storage housing areconfigure to receive a plurality of sockets in a generally verticalorientation.
 20. A floor jack having integrated tool kit as defined inclaim 19, wherein an upper edge of each of the storage housings includesa deflectable portion configured to couple to the respective pivotattachment of the handle in snap-fit arrangement and a detachable mannerto maintain each of the storage housings in an upright orientationrelative to the respective sidewall, each deflectable portion isdisposed in a curved portion of the upper edge sized to conform to thepivot attachment, the curved portion being disposed between two storagelocations of the plurality of storage locations.